Driving mechanism for spindles of centrifugal separators.



3- PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903,1

M. L. HOYT.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SPINDLES 0F GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1901. r I0 MOfiBL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS Pzrins 00.. won LLLLL WASNINDTON, n. c.

No. 724,103. I PATENTED MAR. 3l,-1,903-;

M. L. HOYT.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SPINDLES 0F GBNTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS.

' APPLICATION FILED 1wo v-. 1Q. 1901.

I0 M'oDEL. 2 sums-sum 2.

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UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT MATTHEW L. HOYT, OF LITTLEFALLS, NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO D.BURRELL & COMPANY, OF LITTLEFALLS, NEWV YORK, A FIRM.

DRIVING MECHANISM FORSP INDLES OF CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,103, dated March31, 1903. Application filed November 18, 1901. Serial No. 82,683. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW L. HOYT, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Littlefalls, in the county of Herkimer and State of NewYork, have invented a new-and useful Improvement in Driving Mechanismfor Spindles of Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to centrifugal separators, particularly thedriving mechanism of centrifugal creamers which are provided with ahand-actuated mechanism for driving the spindle. In the type ofhand-driving mechanisms most commonly employed the spindle is providedwith a steep worm, which is operated by a worm-wheel secured to ahorizontal intermediate or counter shaft. The latter is provided with apinion which meshes with a gear-wheel on the horizontal drivingshaft towhich the hand-crank is attached.

The principal object of my invention is to support the driving-shaft andthe intermediate or counter shaft on a common support in such mannerthat these shafts and the gear-wheels which they carry can be removed,with their support, from the frame of the separator without disturbingthe shafts and gear-wheels, whereby these parts retain their properrelative position when removed from the frame of the machine and can bereadily and quickly replaced in the machine without requiring specialadjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple means for confiningthe oilwhich flows along the spindle from the upper to the lowerbearing.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a centrifugal creamer provided with my improvements.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine at right angles to Fig. l withpart of the gear-casing broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionthrough the frame and gear-casing in line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig.4 is asectional elevation of the gearcasing detached from the frame inline 44:, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a face view of the driving mechanism detached fromthe frame. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the driving mechanism onan enlarged scale. Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal sections in lines 7 7and 8" 8, Fig. 6, respectively.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the bowl or drum of the separator, and athe spindle, whichis secured to the same in any suitable manner.

The supporting-frame may be of any suitable construction, that shown inthe drawings being composed of an upper bowl-shaped part B, in which thebowl A is arranged, an intermediate spherical part B, in which thedriving device is arranged, and a lower part B having the form of astand or foot of greater or less height.

h I) represent the usual receptacles mouiited upon the frame aroundthe'top of the bowl for receiving the separated liquids, such as creamand skim milk.

0, Fig. 6, represents the upper or neck bearing, which supports thespindle near the bowl, as usual, and which is constructed in anyvsuitable or wellknown manner. As shown in the drawings, thisneck-bearing is supported in the upper portion of a sleeve D, which isarranged in the upper portion of the intermediate spherical part B ofthe frame. The neck-bearing is mounted in the sleeve D in such mannerthat the bearing can move laterally to a certainextent, and for thatpurpose a spring 0, of metal or rubber, is interposed between theb'earing and the sleeve. The bearing is preferably provided near itslower end with an annular groove (1, into which projects afastening-bolt cl, which is arranged horizontally in the frame and projects through an opening in the sleeve into the groove of the bearing.This bolt holds the bearing against upward movement in the sleeve andsecures the latter to the frame.

e represents the usual worm or steep mul-' rests by the shoulder f atthe upper end of its reduced portion f. The flange at the upper end ofthe sleeve F projects outwardly beyond the side of the spindle and isprovided on its under side with a ball-cone J.

G is a step-bearing which is supported in the lower portion of theintermediate frame part B and which contains in its upper portion aball-cup g.

g represents balls which are interposed between the cup and the cone g.

I represents a retaining-cap, which is secured to the projecting upperend of the stepbearing G, preferably by a screw-thread, as shown. Thiscap has an upwardly-projecting marginal flanget', which confinesthelower end of a slotted tube K, which is preferably interposed betweenthe cap and the lower end of the sleeve D for confining the oil whichflows along the spindle. As shown in Fig. 6, the neck-bearing isprovided at its top with a depressed ann ular oil-receptacle 7c,fromwhich an oil-duct leads to the innersurface of the bearing. Below theneck-beari up: the spindle is practically inclosed by the sleeve D andthe tube K. Any oil which reaches the inner side of the sleeve and tubeflows down on these parts and is caught by the retainingcap I andconducted from the latter through an oil-duct k to the ball-bearing.

L represents the worm-wheel, which meshes with the worm e on the spindleand which is secured to the horizontal intermediate or counter shaft Z.we is apinion which is secured to this intermediate or counter shaft Z,and M is the gear-wheel, which is secured to the driving-shaft n andwhich meshes with the pinion m. N is the hand-crank secured to the shaft01. These shafts and gear-wheels are constructed and arranged in theusual Way for imparting the desired speed to the spindle, and aratchet-clutch 0 is preferably arranged in the train of gearing in theusual way, so that the hand-crank and its shaft are coupled with theworm-wheel only on the forward movement of the crank.

P represents the casing, which incloses the worm-wheel and which isfitted against the open rear side of the intermediate frame part B.'When this frame part is spherical in form, as shown in thedrawings, itsopen rear side, to which the casing P is fitted, is circular in outline,and the face or front side of the casing is correspondingly circular, asshown in Fig. 5. The casing is provided at its upper and lower ends withflanges pp, through which pass the fastening-bolts 12 by which thecasing is secured to the rear side of the frame. The front portion p ofthe casing, which is adjacent to the frame part B, is spherical in formand forms a continuation of the spherical portion B of the frame, asindicated in Fig. 3, while the rear portion 19 of the casing has uprightflat sides and is curved concentric with the worm-wheel. Theintermediate or counter shaft Z is journaled at one end in a bearing q,formed on one side of the casing, and at the other end in a hearing q,formed at the end of a horizontal arm g which projects laterally fromthe casing underneath the intermediate shaft and the gear-pinion securedthereto, this bearing q being arranged on the outer side of said pinion.The gear casing P is provided with arms 1*, projecting laterallyandupward from the upper flange p of the casing and provided at their upperends with bearings r, in which the crank or driving shaft 71. isjournaled. The driving-shaft is thereby supported in the same detachablesupport in which the intermediate shaft is supported, whereby theseshafts and the gear-wheels mounted thereon retain theirrelativearrangement undisturbed in applying or removing the driving mechanismand all liability of any change in the relative arrangement of theseparts is avoided. On attaching this support to the frame of the machineboth shafts are properly supported on the machine and the worm-wheel iscaused to mesh with the worm of the spindle. Upon removing thegear-casing, which forms the support forthese shafts and gear-wheels,the entire driving mechanism, with the exception of the spindle, isremoved bodily from the machine, leaving the interior of the sphericalframe part B and the lower part of the spindle open to access. Ifdesired, a steam-turbine driving mechanism can then be substituted forthe hand mechanism, and when the latter is to be restored this isreadily done without'requiring any adjustment of the removed parts amongthemselves, as the detachable casing holds all of these parts in theirproper relative position. By removing the hand mechanism from themachine the frame of the latter is not in any Way disturbed, but remainsintact and ready to receive a turbine or other driving mechanism. Themachine is thereby rendered suitable for use with a hand drivingmechanism or some other driving mechanism, as circumstances may require.

The tube K is provided on its rear side with an upright slot or narrowopening 3, Figs. 6 to 8, of sufficient size to allow the worm-wheel toproject through the same and to mesh with the worm. The slot of thissleeve is properly registered with the worm-wheel by any suitabledevice, preferably by that shown in the drawings, which consists of alug .9, formed on the upper end of the tube and entering a notch orrecess 3 in the lower rear side of the depending sleeve D. The upper eudof the tube K is centered on the lower end of the sleeve D by a collar 5which surrounds the latter, as shown in Fig. 6. The lug s is formed onthe inner side of this collar and projects into the notch of the sleeve,and this notch is preferably extended upwardly to form a slot similar tothat formed in the rear side of the tube, as shown. raising itsufiieiently to clear the upper end of the tube K the latter can beremoved when the spindle has been withdrawn. Any other IIO Uponreleasing the sleeve D and suitable means for securing the properposition of the tube relative to the sleeve D may, however, be employed.

I claim as my invention 7 1. The combination of a driven spindle, asupporting-frame in which the spindle is journaled, a support for thedriving mechanism which is detachably secured to said support ing-frame,a driving-shaft and anintermediate shaft both mounted in. saiddetachable support, and gears connecting said shafts and spindle,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a driven spindle provided with a driving -worm, asupporting frame in which the spindle is journaled, a support for thedriving mechanism which is detachably secured to said supporting-frame,a horizontal crank-shaft journaled in said detachable support, ahorizontal intermediate shaft journaled in said detachable support belowsaid crank-shaft, gears connecting said shafts, and a worm-wheel securedto said intermediate shaft and meshing with the worm on the spindle,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of adriven spindle provided with a driving-Worm, asupportingframe in which the spindle is journaled and which incloses thesame but is open on its side, a gear-casing detachably secured to theopen side of said frame, a horizontal crankshaft journaled in bearingson said gear-casing,a horizontal intermediate shaft journaled in sidehearings on said gear-casing, gears connecting said shafts, and aworm-wheel which is secured to said intermediate shaft within saidcasing and meshes with said worm, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a driven spindle provided with a driving-worm, asupportingframe in which the spindle is jouriialed and which inclosesthe same but is open at one side, a gearcasing which is detachablysecured to the open side of said frame and completes the inclosure,upper bearings formed on said casing and projecting above the same, ahorizontal crank-shaft journaled in said upper bearings, lateralbearings formed on both sides .of said casing, an intermediate shaftjournaled in said lateral bearings, gears connecting said shafts, and aworm-wheel which is secured to said intermediate shaft within saidcasing and meshes with said worm, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a spindle, means for driving the same, asupporting-frame, a stationary sleeve supported in said frame, an

upper spindle-bearing arranged in said sleeve,

a lower spindle-bearin g arranged in said supporting-frame,and aninclosing tube arranged around the spindle between said sleeve and thelower bearing, substantially as setforth.

6. The combination of a spindle, means for driving the same, asupporting-frame, a stationary sleeve supported in said frame, an upperspindle-bearing arranged in said sleeve, a lower spindle-bearingarranged in said supporting-frame, a tube surrounding the spin dlebetween said sleeve and the lower hearing and having an upright slot forthe driving-gear, and means whereby said tube is prevented from turning,substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 15th day of November, 1901.

MATTHEW L. HOYT. Witnesses:

RUSH F. LEWIS, HARVEY FELDMEIER.

